This riverside view is looking downstream along the Toutle
River valley (North Fork). Bluffs along the river rise nearly 200 feet (60
meters) above the active stream channel. This valley is a testament of the
power of stream erosion (particularly during flood). This sediment is migrating
downstream. A large artificial sediment retention dam was constructed across
the valley of the North Fork of the Toutle River upstream of the communities
along the Interstate 5 corridor in western Washington. |